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「千代寿」 「士」「大平」 by Kawanabe Kyosai — Japanese Woodblock print

「千代寿」 「士」「大平」

by Kawanabe Kyosai

Medium:
Woodblock print
Image courtesy of
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Description

The samurai sheet (士, shi) from Chiyo Kotobuki pairs the warrior class with the legend 'Taihei' — great peace — a politically resonant phrase in the Meiji period, when the hereditary samurai order had been legally abolished and martial identity was being refashioned into national mythology. Kyosai, who had genuine connections to samurai culture through his patrons and his own martial training, would have brought particular nuance to such a subject. The figure likely appears in formal military or ceremonial dress, depicted with the assured line quality derived from his years of Kano-school painting discipline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

「千代寿」 「士」「大平」 was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).